About

Who We Are

Gold for Kids is a UK-registered charity with the mission to help dentists and their patients make a difference for the children in need in our community – simply, easily, effectively, transparently.

Leticia Casanova: Trustee

I am a dentist who specialises in Periodontics. Having studied in New York I relocated to the UK where I started practising and completed my PhD in Diabetes. After teaching at Guy’s hospital for 7 years and working in different dental clinics, my husband and I started our dental clinic London Periodontics and Implant Dentistry – more recently called BITE. It was then, when we realised the amount of scrap precious metal which accumulates over time. After becoming a mother myself, we came up with the idea of using the discarded precious dental restorations and old jewelry to raise money for underprivileged children. We are very privileged to have been born into nourishing homes and parents and we must be as active as we can in bringing balance to those suffering from unfortunate inequality.

My husband and I have 4 children and I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being in nature and painting.

David Holmes: Trustee

I am a dentist who specialises in Implants, biomaterials and biomimetics. I trained in New York and Sydney. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak and aside from our dental practice I founded ‘FollowApp Care’, a communications platform designed to monitor the aftercare of patients in the dental and healthcare sector. I knew about how discarded precious dental restorations were disposed of through scrap metal companies, and it was when we started our practice that we felt empowered to change the old ways and do what’s right, give the patients a voice, and a choice to donate what’s theirs to underprivileged children through our charity Gold For Kids.

My wife and I have 4 children  and I enjoy spending time with my family, researching new ideas and doing water sports.

Dame Bridget Ogilvie: Trustee

I am a Trustee of Gold for Kids. I greatly respect its aims and decision to support children who are deprived in various ways.

I am a biologist who undertook scientific research as a staff member of the Medical Research Council for 17 years and then worked for the Wellcome Trust for 19 years, ultimately as its Director. For this work I was made a DBE, and a Fellow of the Royal Society and several other scientific societies.

I enjoy the company of family and friends, walking, travel, opera and going to exhibitions of many kinds.

Kimberly MacGregor

I am a British-Portuguese dentist, born and raised in Cascais, Portugal. I practiced for a few years in London until I moved to New York to specialize in Prosthodontics. It was a truly rewarding experience both academically and personally. I became a mother to two beautiful girls, and decided to return closer to home to be near my family. I currently work in private practice in London and teach at the Eastman Dental Institute.

I joined Gold For Kids shortly after I returned to London. On a daily basis, Dentists discard a huge amount of dental waste, with significant economic value. GFK collects these by-products and uses all the recycled value for the benefit of children in our community. It is such a simple and brilliant idea to give back. I have been privileged to have had the love and support from my family, and my husband and I are now providing for our own children. It is unsettling to know that there are so many children living in poverty and not having the nurturing support I had when growing up, which made me who I am today. I am committed to help Gold For Kids grow and achieve its true potential, and be part of the change.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, exploring the outdoors and playing tennis.

Mark Topley

I’m delighted to act as a volunteer strategic advisor to Gold For Kids. The charity is an excellent initiative and has the potential to create significant and sustainable impact.

I have over 25 years of experience as a senior leader in international development, CSR and ESG. I was the CEO of Bridge2Aid for 7 years, and have extensive experience of charity and corporate operations as well as brokering partnerships between government, charities and commercial organisations. I believe that building trust through developing good relationships is key to delivering change.

Having lived and worked in East Africa for over 10 years, I now live in Hampshire on the edge of the New Forest with my wife and three children.

Jules Roberts: Admin support

Jules Roberts has recently taken on the lynch pin role of Gold For Kids day to day admin activitites and social media content creation.

Jules has been a Virtual Assistant since 2019 and has previously worked in the Civil Service, NVQ assessment and retail management bringing a whole host of business experience and creativity to the role.

More recently she ran a bridal alterations shop for 8 years, enjoying a huge sense of pride and achievement creating dream wedding dresses for many happy brides over the years.

Jules lives in Devon with her husband, two cats and is a lifelong horse rider and equine enthusiast!

Chris Baker: PR

Chris Baker has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and PR in the dental sector and is the owner of a specialist dental marketing agency – Corona Marketing Ltd. He has advised on and executed plans for many dentists on ways to expand their practices through a wide range of tools including branding, online strategy, social media marketing, PR, advertising, printed and promotional materials, events and strategic alliances. Chris helps his clients leverage existing customers more effectively and carry out marketing with limited resources. Chris is especially interested in the art of copywriting – knowing what can grab the attention of an audience; make them take action and the nuances of language that can make a huge difference to the bottom line.

Lola Gonzalez: Fundraiser

Lola Gonzalez is a Spanish journalist (MA in Publishing) and writer with more than 10 years of experience in editorial project management.

In 2008 she co-founded a digital media company, managing key accounts and coordinating creative teams for several clients. She currently heads the communications department of an art gallery. Lola is especially interested in the creative side of life and writing is her passion.
On August 2022 she published her first novel: “Los hombres perfectos”, available on Amazon, Waterstones (UK) and Barnes and Noble (USA).

What We Do

Across the country, millions of pounds of potential income for children’s charities is lost every year. At a time when the demand for services is higher than ever, many of these fantastic organisations, and the children they serve, are under threat.

Many Dental professionals are unaware of the huge potential that the combined value of removed restorations represents, choosing to either ignore it, or retain it personally.

We believe patients, professionals and the public are united in the belief that this money is best used for the greater good – to help the many children’s charities across the country in their vital work.

We make it possible for dental practices who are driven by their values, to make a difference – collecting and turning restorations into cash which becomes income for children’s charities. We also collect jewellery directly from the public which we then sell or melt if broken, and donate the raised money to children’s charities.